Surgical apparatus



Nov. 8, 1932. J. B. BACON SURGICAL APPARATUS Original Filed July 6, 1931Patented Nov. 8, 1932 YUNITED STATES JOSEPH B. BACON, or` Macolin;ILLNIS ,e Y

SURGICAL Annemans original application mea my 6, 1931, serial No.549,621, now Patent No. 1,863,234. Divided and vum:

application ledvMay 31, 19.32. Serial No'. 614,544., l f i1 i rlhisinvention relates to improvements in surgical apparatus and, moreespecially, such apparatus designed for diagnostic purposes. Among thefeatures of my invention is the provision of surgical apparatus adaptedfor use in diagnosisof the large'and smallintestines, more especiallyfor the location of -obstructions therein. By the use of my invention,it is possible to insert an exploratory lo instrument through the largeintestine and then into the small intestine without necessitating anyincision therein.

This application is a division of my copending patent application,SerialV No. 549,- 021, filed July 6, 1931, now Patent No. 1,863,-

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed withmy specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown inthe accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation; Fig. 2is a vertical sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showinginsertion of the instrument through the large intestine and into thesmall intestine.

The instrument includes a flexible tube or hose 11 preferably made ofrubber and provided with a rounded end-piece 12 which has a centralaperture 12a. The end of the tube 11 carries a distensible, dilatable orstretchable member 13, here shown as being made of thin rubber orsimilar Ymaterial adapted to be inflated with air so that the same maybe distended as desired.

For the purpose of inflating the member 13, there is provided a smallerair tube 14 inside of the tube 11. The outlet end of this tube, asindicated by 14a, is inserted through the wall of the tube 11 inside ofthe member 13. The other end of the tube 14 is provided with awell-known type of rubber bulb 15 with a suitable valved air inlet (notshown) which may be used for forcing air through the tube 14 into themember 13 to distend the same. The bulb 15 may be slipped 0E of the endof the tube 14 for delating the member 13 or any suitable air escape maybe provid` ed for this purpose;

The distensible member 13 will permit the use of the device as adiagnostic instrument through both the large and small intestines. Byinflating or deflating the member 13, as desired, the passage of theinstrumentV through the intestinesis greatly facilitated. For example,the instrument with the member 13 in a completely deatedvposition may beinserted at therrectum 16 (see Fig. 3) and the member 13 then inflatedto the desired 00 sizeto facilitate passage of the same through thelarge intestine 17. The bulb 13 on the end, when distended, will preventthe end 12 of the instrument from engaging or injuring the wall of thelarge intestine. After Vtu; the end of the instrument' has reached thepoint 18 where the small intestine 19 enters the large intestine, themember 13 may then be deated to the size desired to facilitateen- 1 tryof the end of the instrument into the small o intestine 19 through whichit may be forced thel desired distance. TheV end of the in strument maybe directed into the opening of the small intestine at 18 Vmanually inany desired manner, making use `of an incision ,75 in the abdomen ornot, as may be necessary.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments" of my j invention,it is to be understoodthat it is capable of many modiications. Changes,therefore, in the con- VS0 struction and arrangement may be made Ywithout departing from the spirit and scopeY of the invention asdisclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claimVall novelty inherent in my invention as g5 broadly as permissible, inview of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A diagnostic instrument, including; a a@y y flexible member havingsuiicient length and adapted for insertion through the large intestineinto the small intestine; a stretchable member mounted on the end ofsaid flexible member; an air Y tube leading from vsaid 95 stretchablemember to the outer end of the flexible member; and means for forcingair through said air tube into said stretchable member.

2. A diagnostic instrument as claimed in Y claim l in which the flexiblemember is tubular and in which the air tube leading from the stretchablemember to the outer end thereof extends through the flexible member.

8. A diagnostic instrument as claimed in claim A1 in which the diameterof the stretchable member parallel to the axis of theflexible member isrelatively short. y

4. A diagnostic instrument as claimed in claim 1 in which thestretchable member at the end of the flexible memberis formed by adilatable ring.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto Set my j of May, 1932. l

hand Ythis 265th day JOSEPH B. BACON.

